"MDC-T SHOULD CALL FOR THE REMOVAL OF SANCTIONS"

If MDC-T is truly committed to the creation of a level playing field before any elections then it must demonstrate that by calling for the removal of sanctions so that people can vote without being coerced by the fear of starving to death if they vote for Zanu-PF.
The Herald
THERE is nothing to celebrate in the decision by some US lawmakers to propose amendments to their sanctions law, the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act, which they have used to push for regime change in Zimbabwe.
Instead of bringing democracy and economic recovery to Zimbabwe, the law has been used to ruin our economy and cause suffering among ordinary Zimbabweans.
Now they are seeking to introduce yet another heinous piece of legislation, the Zimbabwe Transition to Democracy and Economic Recovery Act.
The intention remains the same -- to manipulate Zimbabwe's economy in a way that brings disaffection for Zanu-PF among voters in the misguided belief that this will bring regime change to Zimbabwe.
The idea now is to selectively fund those ministries controlled by MDC-T, in a bid to create an impression that ministers from that party are better leaders and care more for the people than those in Zanu-PF. It is the same old colonial strategy of divide and rule.
What the people of Zimbabwe want and have been calling for is a total removal of sanctions. This is a message that has been echoed throughout Africa and in the rest of the progressive world. The United States has no business interfering in the internal affairs of Zimbabwe.
For over a year the US has been funding parallel structures within the inclusive Government, through the office of the Prime Minister. These parallel structures have delivered nothing to the people except to destabilise the government and to line the pockets of the individuals who are benefiting from the US money.
The US lawmakers talk about giving "technical assistance to reformist Government ministries and to Parliament in its efforts to amend or repeal repressive legislation". Clearly, they are seeking to extend the parallel structures from the PM's office to include key government ministries and Parliament.
To prove that they are not interested in the recovery of the economy and the welfare of the people, they are proposing to compel US Presi-dent Barack Obama to push for Zimbabwe's suspension from the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme. In other words, they do not want Zimbabwe to sell its diamonds because they know that the diamonds money has the potential to stimulate the economy and ensure that Zimbabwe is self-sufficient.
They will not support anything that will cause the Zimbabwean economy to prosper because the idea has always been to "make the economy scream" so that the people can reject their genuine leaders.
We wait to see what position the Prime Minister and the other MDC-T leaders will take on this new destabilisation approach. Supporting these measures would be a clear violation of the Global Political Agreement in which they committed themselves to calling for the lifting of sanctions.
Zanu-PF will be justified not to commit itself to any further concessions in the ongoing talks until MDC-T leaders confront their western partners and demand the total removal of sanctions against Zimbabwe.
If there is one thing that has the potential to break the inclusive Government, it is this double-dealing by MDC-T.
If MDC-T is truly committed to the creation of a level playing field before any elections then it must demonstrate that by calling for the removal of sanctions so that people can vote without being coerced by the fear of starving to death if they vote for Zanu-PF.